Best nurseries in Dover
18 Ofsted-registered nurseries and pre-schools, best Ofsted result first: the latest report card or overall grade, then the most recent inspection. Childminders are not listed (Ofsted does not publish their addresses).
| # | Nursery | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abbey Pre-school Full day care · 30 places · CT17 0RG | Outstanding (2024) |
| 2 | Casper Nursery Full day care · 28 places · CT18 7HB | Outstanding (2023) |
| 3 | River Pre-School Sessional day care · 26 places · CT17 0RA | Good (2025) |
| 4 | Discovery Nursery Ltd @ Crabble Hill Full day care · 74 places · CT17 0RX | Good (2025) |
| 5 | Kid Ease Dover Buckland Full day care · 58 places · CT16 2BJ | Good (2024) |
| 6 | Sunny Corner Preschool Full day care · 38 places · CT16 2BT | Good (2024) |
| 7 | Burgoyne Heights Pre-School Full day care · 30 places · CT15 5LY | Good (2024) |
| 8 | Next Steps Preschool Full day care · 50 places · CT17 9LW | Good (2024) |
| 9 | Jack in a Box Nursery Full day care · 26 places · CT17 9HJ | Good (2023) |
| 10 | Kid Ease Dover Triangles Full day care · 102 places · CT17 0HL | Good (2023) |
| 11 | Choochoos Day Nursery Full day care · CT17 0QD | Good (2023) |
| 12 | Kaleidascope Childcare Full day care · 36 places · CT16 2LH | Good (2023) |
| 13 | Kingdom Preschool Full day care · 108 places · CT16 2JX | Good (2023) |
| 14 | Whitfield Wise Owls Pre-school Sessional day care · 30 places · CT16 3LY | Good (2023) |
| 15 | Discovery Nursery LTD Full day care · CT16 1PH | Good (2022) |
| 16 | Maison Dieu Nursery Full day care · 50 places · CT16 1RU | Good (2022) |
| 17 | Happy Feet Nursery Full day care · 44 places · CT17 0DD | Good (2021) |
| 18 | Little Oaks Capel Full day care · 50 places · CT18 7EY | Report card: 5 expected (Dec 2025) |
How much does nursery cost in Dover?
Typical weekly nursery prices for a child under two in South East, from the Coram Childcare Survey 2026. A guide only: ask each nursery for its own fees.
Working parents in England can get 30 funded hours a week in term time from when their child is 9 months old, so a 25-hour place can cost little or nothing in term time. Every 3 and 4 year old gets at least 15 funded hours. Funded hours cover 38 weeks a year; nurseries can charge for extra hours, meals and activities. Check what you can get at Childcare Choices.
Questions
What are the best nurseries in Dover?
Of 18 nurseries and pre-schools in Dover, 2 have Ofsted's top results (Outstanding, or mostly strong or exceptional on the new report card). Listed first: Abbey Pre-school, Casper Nursery, River Pre-School.
How much does nursery cost in Dover?
In South East, a part-time place (25 hours a week) for a child under two typically costs £202 a week without funded hours (Coram Childcare Survey 2026). Working parents can get 30 funded hours a week in term time from 9 months.
How many nurseries are there in Dover?
18 Ofsted-registered nurseries and pre-schools, 18 of them inspected so far.
Neighbourhoods
Buckland & St Radigunds · Dover East · Dover West · Elms Vale & Capel-le-Ferne · Kearsney, River & Whitfield
Source: Ofsted early years inspections. Ofsted's report card (from November 2025) grades curriculum, achievement, behaviour, children's welfare and leadership as exceptional, strong, expected, needs attention or urgent improvement; earlier inspections gave one overall grade.